Dubai Little League is sending two teams to the Philippines today to compete in the Asia- Pacific Regional Tournament, which will send the winner to the United States for the World Series in Williamsport.
One team is made up of 11 to 12-year-olds from the Majors Division, while the other consists of 12 to 13-year-olds from the Intermediate (50/70) Division.
The 50/70 refers to the size of the field with the pitcher’s mound 50 feet from home plate, as opposed to 46 in traditional Little League, and the bases 70 feet apart, as opposed to 60.
The Majors team, Dubai Falcons All-Stars, will have their hands full in Pool A, which starts on Sunday, with powerhouse Chinese Taipei to contend with.
“Look, the odds are very long,” said Mark Chapleski, coach of the Falcons. “These kids at Chinese Taipei, for example, they’re practicing five or six days a week for six months. Our kids are fortunately more well-rounded.
“If we play as well as we can, we definitely have a very good chance to win. But we have to play really well to beat some of these teams.”
Four kids on the Majors team are returning to the regional tournament, while the other seven will get their first taste.
“The goal of our all-volunteer league is not to churn out professional baseball players,” said John Fekete, president of Dubai Little League.
“The goal is to get children to love the game of baseball, to come out and be members of our community, develop their skills and if they do show aptitude at the higher level, then to support them.”
